Harnessing Coffee By-Products for Women Empowerment and Sustainable Coffee Industry: A Leap Towards Eco-Friendly Practices
July 2023, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) in collaboration with the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID) Ethiopia and other international partners recently conducted a transformative webinar focusing on the utilization of coffee by-products and waste products to empower women smallholder farmers and ensure the sustainable management of the coffee industry.
The webinar, held in July 2023, was part of the EthioLatinCoffee community of practice project, aiming to shed light on the potential of coffee by-products in promoting gender equality and fostering sustainable coffee production amidst climate change challenges.
Mr. Javier Hoyos, the Executive Director of the Technical Technology Park for Coffee based in Popayan, Colombia, emphasized the untapped potential of the coffee plant, where only a fraction of the plant, mainly the fruits, has been effectively utilized. He proposed a holistic approach to employ every facet of the coffee plant, including leaves, branches, stem, and more, to enhance profitability and reduce environmental impacts stemming from coffee farming practices.
One of the highlights of the webinar was the introduction of various entrepreneurial initiatives and technological advancements to create new processes for utilizing the entire coffee plant. Mr. Hoyos detailed the multifaceted applications of coffee pulp, mucilage, and parchment for diverse products such as liquor, sweets, fuel, and bio-construction materials. He also touched on the nutritional benefits of coffee by-products, including antioxidant properties and potential health benefits.
Mr. Diego, an Engineer from the Technical Technology Park for Coffee, showcased inspiring ventures like Pas Cafe and Gusticafe, which specialize in producing products utilizing coffee by-products. These initiatives, led by local women from coffee-producing families, have not only generated added value from by-products but also fostered a change in mindset among coffee producers towards the holistic utilization of coffee by-products.
Ms. Rozi from AMPROCAL, a Honduran coffee cooperative, shared insights on how training smallholder coffee families to develop various products using the by-products has empowered women, developed entrepreneurship, and fostered family support.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Ms. Vivian from TecniCafe, where participants engaged in a lively discussion on diversifying coffee planting practices in Ethiopia and other related topics.
The insights and recommendations shared during the event are expected to pave the way for more inclusive and sustainable coffee production in Ethiopia and beyond, fostering a future where women, coffee, and climate thrive in harmony.